Barcelona mayor calls EU migrant policy 'suicide'

Colau says weakens EU. On Catalonia, cites 'right to decide'

(ANSAmed) - BARCELONA, JANUARY 11 - Barcelona Mayor Ada
Colau, speaking from city hall, told a group of foreign
journalists that the current EU migratory policy is "suicide",
and called the migrant crisis "a political crisis of the EU and
of democracy".

Colau, who has been mayor in Barcelona since 2015, said the
situation "is weakening Europe".

"Perhaps we should remember that the EU was founded after the
Second World War, to not repeat the mistakes and horrors of that
war, with fundamental respect for human rights," she said.

"But now, the management of migrants is contradicting that.

What's more, Europe is the one that receives fewer migrants in
the world compared to other continents like Asia, and this isn't
said enough. Just as it is necessary to debunk the common view
that considers migrants our competitors. In reality, they are an
added value, and Riace is an example for all. What was done in
that Calabrian town is a success story, and that's exactly why
your minister Salvini doesn't like it," she said.

Colau said resources must be invested to better manage
migrant flows.

"It's good to get it in your head that migrant flows won't
stop. When a woman with a baby decides to risk her life at sea,
getting on a boat without any guarantee of arriving alive, it's
because she has no alternatives. They've accused us of being
do-gooders because we're in favor of reception, [Barcelona was
the one to resolve the stall over the Open Arms last year,
welcoming 60 migrants after Italy and Malta refused - Ed.] but
we're just pragmatic. If the EU wants to survive to the future,
it has to establish responsibilities," she said.

On the question of Catalonia, Colau said she's not in favor
of independence, but said the region "has the right to decide in
a democratic manner, and it is legitimate to proceed with the
choice of the referendum".

"There needs to be a political solution, not through the
courts. I'm convinced the right way to resolve the crisis is
another referendum, because, let's remember, the previous one
wasn't binding and the result cannot be considered democratic.

There needs to be a new consultation in which the two parties,
Madrid and Barcelona, find an agreement," she said.